Head-to-head

• The teams met for the first time in the Premier League in October, with Bournemouth winning 6-1.
• However, Hull have won on the only two previous occasions this century that they have hosted Bournemouth.

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator

Marco Silva has already taken charge of two Hull City matches but this is where the serious stuff starts.

The Portuguese has already drafted in two new attacking players in Oumar Niasse and Evandro, while the recent return of Abel Hernandez, external after a lengthy injury is another much-needed boost.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe received much criticism, external after making 11 changes for the FA Cup tie at League One Millwall. The 3-0 defeat will have hurt him more. Expect another 11 changes for this one as the Cherries look to bounce back in style.

They hammered Hull 6-1 on the south coast in October - a more modest victory this time will provide just as much satisfaction.

Hull boss Marco Silva has resisted the urge to start with new signings Evandro and Oumar Niasse for his first Premier League match. Both start on the bench along with goalkeeper David Marshall, who sees Eldin Jakupovic replace him for league duty after impressive recent outings in both cups.

Hull XI: Jakupovic, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Clucas, Mason, Huddlestone, Robertson, Snodgrass, Hernandez, Diomande. Subs: Evandro, Niasse, Livermore, Weir, Marshall, Tymon, Bowen.

Image source, .

Visitors Bournemouth are without suspended captain Simon Francis and loanee Nathan Ake, who has returned to Chelsea. Tyrone Mings continues in defence after starting the FA Cup loss to Millwall. Ryan Fraser starts following a calf injury, as does Benik Afobe, who has withdrawn from DR Congo's Africa Cup of Nations squad.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Adam Smith, Steve Cook, Mings, Daniels, Arter, Surman, Stanislas, Wilshere, Fraser, Afobe. Subs: Gosling, Pugh, Callum Wilson, Brad Smith, King, Federici, Ibe

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Much has happened at the KCOM Stadium since last Hull City were in Premier League action.

Boss Mike Phelan was dismissed after their 3-1 loss at West Brom on 2 January, and the club wasted no time in appointing former Olympiakos and Sporting Lisbon manager Marco Silva in his place.

A left-field appointment he may be, but his first match in charge brought victory over Swansea in the FA Cup (and a first clean sheet in 23 matches), and his second ended with a battling first-leg defeat to Manchester United in the semi-final of the EFL Cup. 

Two new signings have since bolstered the Tigers' depleted ranks and, for the first time in a long while, there's a feeling of cautious optimism lurking around the East Yorkshire club. 

Visitors Bournemouth are, of course, more than capable of puncturing that burgeoning hope - I present October's 6-1 victory at the Vitality Stadium as Exhibit A - and they also have a point to prove themselves after their embarrassing FA Cup exit to Millwall.

This should be a good one. Thirty minutes to go...

Image source, Getty Images